Granada

GRANADA

hóndiga , a public building which used to house merchants and their produce. Then continue as far as the Plaza del Carmen which leads to the main shop ping streets and where you'll find the Town Hall which was built over what

used to be the Convent of El Carmen. From there you can take the Calle Reyes Católicos, one of the busiest streets, or the Calle Navas which is full of bars and restaurants serving some of the best cuisine in Granada.

THE ARTS Granada has always been the home and refuge of great poets, writers and artists and the whole city is full of history which is apparent when you see the long list of palaces, cármenes and museums. Two of those you really should visit can be found in the heart of the Nasrid complex, in the Palace of Carlos V: the Alhambra Museum, specialising in Hispano-Moorish culture and art, and the Granada Fine Arts Museum , Spain's oldest art gallery. A stroll through its galleries is like a synthesis of Granada art, with iconic works like the Entierro de Cristo , or Funeral of Christ, a mag nificent Renaissance wood carving by Jacobo Florentino. Nearby, just a few metres from the Torres Bermejas fortress, there is an amazing carmen which houses the Rodríguez Acosta Foundation , where art and na ture go hand-in-hand. Based on an idea by José María Rodríguez-Acosta, a renowned painter from Granada, the Modernist garden comprises several terraces with excellent views of both the valley and the Sierra Nevada. There are extraordinary sculptures, secret pas sages and a beautiful library.

a LA CARTUJA MONASTERY

The Monastery of La Cartuja , built over what was a Moorish carmen , is one of the finest examples of Spanish Baroque architecture. The beautifully decorated white walls in the sacristy make a sharp contrast with the red marble in the high altar. The small cloister is a veritable ha ven of peace and tranquillity. L For further information go to: www.alhambra-patronato.es www.fundacionrodriguezacosta.com

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